Bert Cooper


Bertram Cooper, nicknamed Smokin' Bert Cooper, was an American professional boxer who competed between 1984 and 2012. He fought Evander Holyfield, George Foreman, Riddick Bowe, Michael Moorer, Chris Byrd, Ray Mercer, and Corrie Sanders, among others. Cooper challenged three times for a world title, and was known for being in several wild fights in the 1990s, including his world title bouts with Holyfield and Moorer.

Professional career

Cooper came out of Philadelphia and was trained in his early years by ex-champ Joe Frazier, and rose in the rankings with a series of explosive knockouts in the Cruiserweight division. Unable to get a world title shot despite winning the NABF belt and defeating Olympic gold medallist Henry Tillman and future world champion Tyrone Booze, he began boxing in the heavyweight division, knocking out Willie DeWitt in 2 rounds but being stopped in 8 rounds by No. 1 ranked heavyweight contender Carl "The Truth" Williams and in 2 rounds by George Foreman.
In 1990, having failed to secure a cruiserweight world title fight, Cooper moved to heavyweight permanently, knocking out top 5-ranked Orlin Norris and claiming his NABF title. He lost the title in his first defense, outpointed over 12 by undefeated Olympic gold medallist Ray Mercer in an explosive brawl. Later the same year he was KO'd in 2 rounds by fast-rising Riddick Bowe and his career looked over. However Cooper bounced back in 1991, stopping Joe Hipp in 5 rounds then being matched on short notice with Evander Holyfield for the undisputed heavyweight championship after two opponents dropped out. Cooper came off the floor in the first round to stun Holyfield in the 3rd round, the two exchanging big blows before the referee Mills Lane stopped the fight in the 7th.
The fight made Cooper a big name and he would be matched in many high-profile fights over the years. In June 1992 he boxed undefeated Michael Moorer for the vacant WBO title, knocking Moorer down twice but also going down twice himself before being stopped in the 5th. Cooper's career went downhill from this point, being outpointed by veteran Mike Weaver for an obscure title in China then losing to prospects like Corrie Sanders, Chris Byrd, Fres Oquendo, and Joe Mesi. On June 18, 2010, Cooper, aged 44, made a successful comeback after eight years out of the ring, a sixth-round knockout of Corey Winfield in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Personal

His hometown was Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania, United States. He was 5'11" tall. He died on May 10, 2019 from pancreatic cancer at the age of 53.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
64Loss38–25 Carl DavisTKO2, 2:32Sep 8, 2012Civic Center, Hammond, Indiana, U.S..png" />
63Loss38–24 Chauncy WelliverUD10Apr 5, 2012Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S..png" />For WBC Continental Americas heavyweight title
62Loss38–23 Luis OrtizTKO2, 1:29Apr 23, 2011 Miami-Dade County Fair & Expo, Miami, Florida, U.S.
61Win38–22 Gabe BrownSD6Feb 26, 2011 Club Europe, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
60Win37–22 Corey WinfieldKO6, 2:21Jun 18, 2010 Benton Convention Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.
59Loss36–22 Darroll WilsonRTD4, 3:00Sep 20, 2002 Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
58Win36–21 Craig TomlinsonUD10Jun 22, 2002 Sovereign Center, Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S.Won USA Pennsylvania State heavyweight title
57Loss35–21 Joe MesiTKO7, 0:41Jul 27, 2001 Civic Center, Niagara Falls, New York, U.S.
56Loss35–20 Fres OquendoUD10Oct 16, 1999 Star Plaza Theatre, Merrillville, Indiana, U.S.
55Win35–19 Brian YatesTKO4, 2:10Jun 19, 1999 Genesis Center, Gary, Indiana, U.S.
54Loss34–19 Derrick JeffersonTKO2, 1:02Mar 4, 1999 Soaring Eagle Casino, Mount Pleasant, Michigan, U.S.
53Loss34–18 Anthony GreenUD8Sep 19, 1997 Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
52Win34–17 Richie MelitoKO1, 1:51Jul 29, 1997 The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Won WBF heavyweight title
51Loss33–17 Samson Po'uhaTKO4, 1:36Apr 22, 1997 The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.
50Loss33–16 Chris ByrdUD10Mar 18, 1997 IMA Center, Flint, Michigan, U.S.
49Loss33–15 Alexander ZolkinTKO9, 2:50Jun 23, 1995 Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.For NABF heavyweight title
48Win33–14 George HarrisKO1 Jul 30, 1994 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
47Loss32–14 Jeremy WilliamsDQ7, 1:48Jun 24, 1994 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
46Win32–13 Joe SavageKO1, 1:41Apr 22, 1994 Civic Arena, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
45Loss31–13 Larry DonaldTKO7, 1:16Apr 14, 1994 Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S.For WBC Continental Americas heavyweight title
44Loss31–12 Craig PetersenSD3Dec 3, 1993 Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S.People's Choice One-Night Heavyweight Tournament
43Win31–11 Mike RobinsonTKO3, 2:59Nov 28, 1993 Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, U.S.
42Loss30–11 Corrie SandersTKO3, 1:26Jun 26, 1993 Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
41Win30–10 Derek WilliamsUD10Mar 25, 1993 Harrah's Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
40Loss29–10 Mike WeaverUD10Feb 27, 1993 Capital City Gymnasium, Beijing, ChinaFor vacant NBA heavyweight title
39Win29–9 Rocky PepeliTKO8, 2:10Sep 15, 1992 War Memorial Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
38Win28–9 David JacoUD10Jul 11, 1992 Fort Myers, Florida, U.S.
37Loss27–9 Michael MoorerTKO5, 2:21May 15, 1992 Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.For vacant WBO heavyweight title
36Win27–8 Cecil CoffeeTKO2, 1:24Feb 15, 1992 Mirage Hotel & Casino, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
35Loss26–8 Evander HolyfieldTKO7, 2:58Nov 23, 1991 The Omni, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.For WBA and IBF heavyweight title
34Win26–7 Joe HippTKO5, 1:01Oct 18, 1991 Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
33Win25–7 Anthony WadeTKO8, 1:36Aug 8, 1991 Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
32Win24–7 Conroy NelsonTKO9, 2:23May 11, 1991 Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
31Win23–7 Loren RossTKO8, 1:16Feb 26, 1991 Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
30Loss22–7 Riddick BoweKO2, 3:09Oct 25, 1990 Mirage Hotel & Casino, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
29Loss22–6 Ray MercerUD12Aug 5, 1990 Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Lost NABF heavyweight title
28Win22–5 Orlin NorrisTKO8, 1:34Feb 17, 1990 Northlands Coliseum, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaWon NABF heavyweight title
27NC21–5 Mike CohenNC8Dec 9, 1989 Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.
26Win21–5 Rick HoardTKO1, 1:23Sep 28, 1989 Finky's Bar, Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.
25Loss20–5 George ForemanRTD2, 3:00Jun 1, 1989 Pride Pavilion, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
24Loss20–4 Nate MillerRTD6, 3:00Feb 15, 1989 Pennsylvania Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.Lost NABF cruiserweight title
23Win20–3 Tony MorrisonTKO9, 2:59Sep 27, 1988 Halifax Forum, Halifax, Nova Scotia, CanadaRetained NABF cruiserweight title
22Loss19–3 Everett MartinUD10Jun 1, 1988 Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
21Win19–2 Tony FulilangiTKO4, 2:44Mar 15, 1988 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Retained NABF cruiserweight title
20Win18–2 Tim BullockTKO3 Dec 4, 1987 Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
19Win17–2 Andre McCallTKO6, 2:54Nov 20, 1987 Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Retained NABF cruiserweight title
18Loss16–2 Carl WilliamsRTD7, 3:00Jun 21, 1987 Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.For vacant USBA heavyweight title
17Win16–1 Willie de WitTKO2, 2:58Feb 14, 1987 Regina Agridome, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
16Win15–1 Carlos HernándezTKO8, 1:04Dec 2, 1986 Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
15Win14–1 Spencer ChavisTKO3, 1:03Oct 10, 1986 Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.Retained NABF cruiserweight title
14Win13–1 Tyrone BoozeSD12Aug 26, 1986 Stateline, Nevada, U.S.Retained NABF cruiserweight title
13Win12–1 Henry TillmanUD12Jun 15, 1986 Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Won NABF cruiserweight title
12Win11–1 Oscar HolmanTKO10, 0:31Apr 18, 1986 Trump Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
11Loss10–1 Reggie GrossTKO8, 1:24Jan 31, 1986 Trump Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
10Win10–0 Cedric ParsonsKO1, 0:46Dec 12, 1985 Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
9Win9–0Ray DavisonUD6Oct 9, 1985 Trump Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
8Win8–0 Tim DavenportTKO1, 1:59Aug 3, 1985 Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
7Win7–0 Larry GivensTKO3, 2:22May 20, 1985 Lawlor Events Center, Reno, Nevada, U.S.
6Win6–0 Jim JonesKO1, 0:59May 9, 1985 Caesars Boardwalk Regency, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
5Win5–0 Lorenzo BoydKO1 Apr 18, 1985 Monroe, Louisiana, U.S.
4Win4–0Alvin FuggsKO1, 1:14Feb 23, 1985 Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
3Win3–0 Ian PriestTKO1, 1:00Nov 24, 1984 Leisure Centre, Gateshead, England
2Win2–0 Mark YoungTKO2, 2:18Oct 30, 1984 Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
1Win1–0 Dennis CaldwellKO1, 1:28Sep 11, 1984 Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.